GM Planning Buick Regal Concept?

[Ed Arcuri]

Originally Posted by zete

GM would be smart -- yeah, yeah, I know -- to bring over limited numbers of the Insignia/Regal as is for this fall. Then refresh it when it starts getting built in Oshawa.

A car, priced under the Lacrosse, would be great and one that is winning raves in Europe -- and a 100,000 pre-order list -- is something GM can point to as a winner.

What I fail to understand is if GM had already slated the Aura/Insignia for a build in the States why they just can't start building it here in a few months. The equipment must already be in place.

It's all rather aggravating.

They have to wait until we're all tired of waiting for it before it can be introduced. It's kinda' like wine, only different.

[Jimmy Jive]

Perhaps by 'concept', they mean they'll be tweaking a Regal to preview any design elements we'll see on the next gen coming here?

But add me to the list that believe they should bring the current Regal here asap. The Insignia, shares the number 1 spot with the CTS, imho, as the nicest car GM currently makes. (Not counting the new LaCrosse either. Darn, some very nice cars out there these days...)

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by ne_one

Wah? Fenwick.. you better give it up!

BLAAAH.

I always say too much.

Nothing major, don't worry about it. Just some options made standard, some stuff deleted, SL trim added to Acadia, colors added/deleted, new wheels, blah blah.

[CUtiger08]

I can understand it taking awhile to get US production up and running... but why not at least release the higher-end models right away and source them from Europe?

Get the top of the line model out, on the road, and start making people look at Buick as a cool car again. Then, in 2011, they can add the base model Regal and the "Astra" as more affordable models after the Lacrosse and Regal have had time to impress everyone.

[megeebee]

Originally Posted by zete

What I fail to understand is if GM had already slated the Aura/Insignia for a build in the States why they just can't start building it here in a few months. The equipment must already be in place.

It's all rather aggravating.

The replacement for the current Aura did not share any sheetmetal or interior with the Insignia, that's why.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...a-clone-67103/


Only in the last few months has the decision been made to close/sell Saturn. Convesely, the decision to keep Buick and dump Pontiac is very recenet as well. If both Saturn and Pontiac were still "with us", and they both got replacements for their Epsilon sedans, would you still think a Buick verson would be a good idea?

[GMusa]

I wont even think about buying a car from GM if they start bringing over Chinese made vehicles!

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by GMusa

I wont even think about buying a car from GM if they start bringing over Chinese made vehicles!

It'll be built in Oshawa...and it's nothing more than a rebadged Opel Insignia...

[sigma]

Originally Posted by megeebee

The replacement for the current Aura did not share any sheetmetal or interior with the Insignia, that's why.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...a-clone-67103/


Only in the last few months has the decision been made to close/sell Saturn. Convesely, the decision to keep Buick and dump Pontiac is very recenet as well. If both Saturn and Pontiac were still "with us", and they both got replacements for their Epsilon sedans, would you still think a Buick verson would be a good idea?

Actually it was. That was after they did the tooling and some focus groups came back negative and so they junked the whole process to "Americanize" the car (or at least that was my understanding of what happened).

[Kennyboy]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

It'll be built in Oshawa...and it's nothing more than a rebadged Opel Insignia...

China or Canada, its still considered to be imports by US standards.

[ausrutherford]

Why waste a concept when they should just bring the real thing now. I also don't see the point of them continueing the Lucerne unless it's a Chinese Park Avenue.

[TJ95GAGT]

Is it normal for it to take 2 years to tool a plant? With how cash straped GM is right now why are they redesigning or updateing a pefectly good car for NA? Just get duplicates of all the tooling from Europe and bring it here, surely that can't take 2 years or does it?
Seems to me it would be better for GM to have all the markets that get the Insignia on pretty much the same timeline, rather than having NA on a "refreshed" model thats 2yrs old elsewhere in the world. Now GM will be updating this car every 2-3 years around the world, which seems wasteful to me.

[chiefpontiac]

Originally Posted by GMusa

I wont even think about buying a car from GM if they start bringing over Chinese made vehicles!

Something like 50,000 per year are already in the works. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,519974,00.html

Originally Posted by megeebee

The replacement for the current Aura did not share any sheetmetal or interior with the Insignia, that's why.

http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f...a-clone-67103/


Only in the last few months has the decision been made to close/sell Saturn. Convesely, the decision to keep Buick and dump Pontiac is very recenet as well. If both Saturn and Pontiac were still "with us", and they both got replacements for their Epsilon sedans, would you still think a Buick verson would be a good idea?

But the G6 would have at least shared chassis underpinnings, including AWD. Fat chance GM will give us AWD in a midsize, leaving that market to Ford Fusion, et al. And yes I think a Buick version of Malibu is long overdue, just please, drop Regal and call it Skylark instead.

Originally Posted by sigma

Actually it was. That was after they did the tooling and some focus groups came back negative and so they junked the whole process to "Americanize" the car (or at least that was my understanding of what happened).

Americanizing a car usually includes softer springs, smaller brakes, lower hp, less engine-tranny choice - You will not. despite our need for it, see any AWD turbo-diesel version of Insignia in the US. Now, please, GM, prove me wrong.

Originally Posted by Kennyboy

China or Canada, its still considered to be imports by US standards.

Not exactly, we look at NA content, that's why a Mexican built Dodge Ram and a Canadian built Chevy Camaro are considered "domestic" and a Kentucky built Camry is an "import".

Originally Posted by TJ95GAGT

Is it normal for it to take 2 years to tool a plant? With how cash straped GM is right now why are they redesigning or updateing a pefectly good car for NA? Just get duplicates of all the tooling from Europe and bring it here, surely that can't take 2 years or does it?
Seems to me it would be better for GM to have all the markets that get the Insignia on pretty much the same timeline, rather than having NA on a "refreshed" model thats 2yrs old elsewhere in the world. Now GM will be updating this car every 2-3 years around the world, which seems wasteful to me.

No it normally does not take two years. It could take as little as two miniutes to transfer digital files from Germany to Detroit. Another option is boosting Germany's economy by importing completed cars- not like GM has any idea how to successfuly do that though.

You've got a beter chance of buying an American-built Toyota than you do a Chevy. 10 models of Toyotas built here.

[PRO_USA1776]

It takes a number of months for tooling and other things in place prior to the launch of a new car. I know, everywhere in the western world, even in Canada they want everything now!

[camaro_freak]

Originally Posted by ohmywrd8

I love how is says "COPY of the Chinese Regal."

I guess GM BUICK NA can't do design anymore? Since sales are so hot in China for the brand, I guess we'll never see designs like the Velitte here in the states any time soon.

It will be designs like the Chinese Riviera... which I'm not a fan of...

[TJ95GAGT]

Originally Posted by PRO_USA1776

It takes a number of months for tooling and other things in place prior to the launch of a new car. I know, everywhere in the western world, even in Canada they want everything now!

Months is different than years. I think most understand we couldn't have this in NA show rooms by summer or even summers end but going into production late 2011? For a car who's tooling is already in use that seems a bit long of a wait.